Apparatus for drying striplike material



June 25, 1946. G. S. FRUM 2,402,545

' APPARATUS FOR DRYING STRIPLIKE MATERIAL Filed Jan. 29, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR June 25, 1946. G. s. FRUM APPARATUS FOR DRYING STRIPLIKE MATERIAL Filed Jan. 29, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Generals/70m 55 5a J8 I X 8 ha? 40 z 5.9

hillll l l llllIllll I 3 INVENTOR 52' G enera/ 6.51/07 June 25, 1946.

G. s. FRUM 2,402,545

APPARATUS FOR DRYING STRIPLIKE MATERIAL Filed Jan. 29, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented June 25, 16

STATES orgies APPARATUS F161): DYING STRIPLIKE General S. From, Hollidays Cove, W. Va, as-- signer to National Steel Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Application January 29, 1944, Serial No. 520,194

The present invention relates to an apparatus which is especially useful in the drying of striplike material and, more particularly, in the drying of steel in strip-like form in the manufacture of tin plate by the electrolytic method. While 12 Claims. (Cl. 3l56) ment and is passed through a chemical bath and a fluid to impinge substantially uniformly on one or both urfaces of material in strip form.

In the manufacture of tin plate by the electrolytic method, the strip is passed continuously through the various pieces of apparatus employed for performing the necessary operations thereon. In the ordinary electrolytic tinning line the strip first passes through electro or mechanical cleaning apparatus, through a scrubber and then through the electro-acid etch where the strip is placed in condition to receive the coating of tin. The strip then passes through another scrubber and from the scrubber into the electroplating apparatus where-the coating of tin is applied to it. The strip is then subjected to a mechanical brushing by nickel-silver brushes and is then passed through a hot water rinse. The strip is then passed through a dryer for the purpose of removing from it all water which may remain on it from the rinse. Thereafter the strip may be coiled, although, in general, the strip is subjected toiurther treatment before being coiled or before passing to the slitting or cutting lines. In some installations, instead of coiling the strip after through another dryer.

passed through an oil and water bath vfor the 2 apparatus, it is generally passed through a quenching bath. If it is not to .be further treated,

it is desirable to remove any water which'may remain on the strip and, consequently, it is passed through another dryer, which may be of the same type as the dryer preceding the reflow apparatus in the line. Frequently, however, the strip is subjected to a further chemical treatthen between water sprays which remove any chemicals remaining onthe strip. It is desirable then to again remove any water which remains on the strip and, consequently, it is passed If the strip is then purpose of imparting a small amount of oil to the strip, it is again necessary to pass the strip through drying equipment for eliminating any water which may remain on it. The strip is then ready to be passed to coiling equipment or to a slitting or cutting line.

In any of the operations mentioned above it is extremely important thatall waterbe eliminated from the strip. It is important that it be eliminated prior to the electrical reflowins' operation in order to prevent marking of the strip it is passed through refiow apparatus for the purpose of causing the tin to flow in order tochange the dull, mat-like appearance of the surface to a nice bright finish. In some processes this brightening of the strip is accomplished by' passing it through a hot bath of palmoil or some other suitable oil. In other processes an electric current is passed through the strip .in order to heat it to the point where the thin tin coating will melt to a sufilcient extent to eliminate the dull, mat-like appearance. Where the electric process is used for renewing the tin coating, it is highly desirable to eliminate all water from the strip after the hot rinsing operation. If all water is not removed prior to the electrical reflowing of the tin, the resulting product will be marked.

during that operation. It is important in all of the subsequent operations because, if water is permitted to remain on the strip, corrosion may result. The drying problem in all the operations mentioned above is substantially the same and, consequently, substantially the same kind of drying apparatus can be used in each operation The apparatus which I provide for drying the strip is particularly valuble in tinning lines 0! the character described for the reason that the amount of heated air impinging upon the strip can be readily regulated and controlled and it can be distributed uniformly over the strip so that it will be dried thoroughly. In the accompanying drawings I have shown, for purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment of my invention. In the drawings I have not attempted to illustrate all of the various locations in a tinning line where drying apparatus 0f the character which I provide may be used, but have shown the drying equipment immediately following the hot rinse tank. The strip is not illustrated as passing through the remaining operations mentioned above but is illustrated as passing from the dryer through a looping pit and then to coiling apparatus. However, it will be understood irom what has been stated above that my-drying'apparatus may be employed in After the strip has passed through the refiow any of the various locations in the tinni'ng line 3' where it is desirable-to thoroughly dry the strip.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic elevational view showing a tinning line with the dryer in position immediately following the hot rinse tank;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the dryer, partially broken away;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the dryer illustrated in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an end elevational viewof the dryer illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3; and

Fig. 5 is a partial vertical sectional view taken along the line VV of Fig. 2.

As illustrated in Fig. l, the strip S, after being coated with tin, passes through the nickel-silver brusher 2 where it is mechanically brushed. It then'passes'through the hot rinse tank 3, between guide rolls 4, beneath a guide roll 5 and through the dryer 6. Thereafter it passes around tensioning rolls v1 and into a looping pit 8. After passing through the looping pit, it passes between guide rolls 9, around drag rolls i0. over a deflecting roll I I, between lap detecting rolls [2, through a selector shear l3, and then to one or the other of the coilers M.

The dryer 6 is illustrated in detail in Figs. 2 to 5, inclusive. As shown in said figures, the dryer comprises a top header or chamber l6 and a bottom header l6 between which the strip S is passed. The bottom header I8 is supported on a supporting structure indicated generally by the reference character l7, and the top header i5 is supported on the bottom header by small plates l8 positioned at the corners and intermediate the ends of the headers. These small supporting plates serve to space the header I5 above the header l6 a sufficient distanceto permit the strip to pass therebetween.

The top header i5 is formed of a top wall IS, a bottom wall 20, side walls 2i and end walls 22. The side walls 2] are provided with openings 23 and the end walls are provided with openings 25 which are normally closed by cover plates 25 and 26, respectively. These holes are provided for the purpose. of permitting access to theinterior of the header.

The bottom wall of the header l5 has V -shaped, angular slots 27 therein for discharging heated air against the strip as-it travels between the headers. Each slot 21 is V-shaped in plan, being formed of two legs, each of which extends angularly with respect to the adjacent side wall and forwardly toward the entry and of the dryer, the two legs Joining together at a point substantially at the center line of the header. Slots 21 are all 4 the wall is sufliciently thin that it is weakened by 'the cutting of the slots therein, the adjusting supporting rods or studs 30 are provided. One

each rod 30 is welded to the bottom wall.

rod is positioned approximatelyon the center line of the bottom wall near the point where the two legs of the slot meet and other rods are positioned between the center and edges of the bottom wall adjacent a slot. The bottom end of The top end of each rod is threaded and the threaded portion 3! extends through an opening 32 in the top wall. Nuts 30 are positioned on the threaded portion of the rod 30, one on each side of the top well. By threading the nuts along the threaded portion of the rods 30, the size of the adjacent slot may be increased or decreased. In modifying the size of the opening formed by the slot, the bottom wall adjacent the slot is moved out of the normal plane of the wall. This adjustment of the size of the slots provides control over the amount and velocity of fluid passing through the openings and impinging against the strip passing between the headers.

The bottom header i6 is substantially the same as the top header l5. It is provided with a top wall 33, side walls 34, end walls 35 and a bottom wall 36. The side and end walls 34 and 35 are provided with openings 31 and 38 which are normally covered by plates 39 andli, respectively. The top wall is provided with slots ll similar to the slots 21 in the top header. The slots are rendered adjustable by rods 42 carrying nuts 43.

The top header is connected to a source of supply of heated air by means of a conduit 44 and the bottom header is likewise connected to a source of heated air by a conduit 45. A blower (not shown) may be utilized for blowing the heated air into and through the headers.

In operation, heated air is supplied to the headers by the conduits 44 and 45, and this heated parallel to each other, and each leg of each slot extends to a point adjacent but spaced from a side wall of the header. Each slot, as is illustrated in Fig. 5, extends through the bottom wall 20 at an angle relative to the bottom wall so that air passing therethrough will be projected against the strip angularly in the direction of the entry end of the dryer.

As stated, the slots 21 do not extend through the edges of the bottom wall but extend only to a point adjacent the edges. Although the portion of the bottom wall between the slots is not completely severed from the remainder of the bottom wall, the wall adjacent each slot can be moved to some extent by flexing out of the plane of the wall so that the size of the openings formed by the slots can be adjusted. The bottom wall is normally made of sheet metal which is suiilciently still that the cutting of the slots therein will not weaken it to any extent. However, even thou h air is discharged therefrom through the openings formed by the slots 21 and 4|. These slots are angularly disposed with respect to the strip S passing therebetween, and the heated air is discharged angularly against the strip. It is discharged angularly with respect to the plane of the strip and angularly with respect to the plane normal to the surface of the strip. The drying units are spaced from the strip and, as there are preferably no side plates closing these spaces, there is an angular, sidewise sweep to the drying gas as it contacts the strip. Due to the size and disposition of the openings or slots there is, in eiTect, a, mechanical sweeping action on the droplets of water on thestrip causing them to be removed therefrom.

While I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that it may be otherwise embodied within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus of the character described comprising a chamber formed of top, bottom, side and end walls, one of said walls having a plurality of spaced, substantially parallel slots extending through the wall at an angle to the plane of the wall, each of said slots having leg portions which extend angularly .with respect to the alljacent sidewall and toward an end wall, the leg portions beingjoined together to form a continuous slot, means for moving portions said wall adjacent the slots out of the general plane .of the wall and maintaining them deflected to adjust the size of the openings formed by the slots, and means for supplying a fluid to said chamber and ior'causing it to be discharged thereirom' through said slots. f

2. Apparatus of the character described comprising a. chamber formed of top, bottom, side and end walls, one of said walls having a plurality of spaced, substantially parallel, V.-shaped slots extending therethrough, one end of each slot being adjacent one edge of the wall and the other being adjacent the other edge of the wall, adjusting studs secured to a portion of said wall adjacent each of said slots and extending through the opposite wall, and means for supplying a fluid to the chamber and for'causing it to be discharged therefrom through said slots.

3. Apparatus of the character described com prising a chamber formed of top, bottom, side and end walls, one of said walls having a substantially V-shaped slot extending therethrough,

one end of said slot being adjacent one edge of means for supplying a fluid to said chamber and for causing it to be discharged therefrom through said slot.

4. Apparatus of the character described comprising a chamber formed of top, bottom, side and .end walls, one of said walls having a plurality 40 spaced, substantially V-shaped slots extending of spaced slots extending therethrough, each slot extending from a point adjacent one edge of the wall angularly toward the center line of the wall and then in the reverse direction toward the other edge and angularly with respect thereto, means connected with at least one of the portions of the wall between said slots for moving said portion out of the general plane of the wall and maintaining it in deflected position for adjustchamber and for causing it to be discharged.

therefrom through said slots.

5.. Drying apparatus for drying strip-like material comprising spaced headers between which the strip-like material may be passed, each header comprising top, bottom, side and end walls, the wall oi each header adjacent the path of travel of the strip having therein a plurality of spaced, V-shaped slots extending therethrough, one end of each slot being positioned adjacent one edge of the wall and the other end being adjacent the other edge of the wall, means cooperating with the slotted wall of each header for moving a portion of the wall adjacent each slot out of the plane of the wall and maintaining it in deflected position for adjusting the size of the openings formed by said slots, and means for supplying a fluid to each of said headers and for causing it to be discharged therefrom through said slots.

6. Drying apparatus for drying strip-like material comprising spaced headers between which the strip-like material may be passed, each header comprising top, bottom, side and end walls, the wall of each header adjacent the path in v travel of the strip having therein a plurality of spaced, V-shaped slots extending therethrough,

one end of each slot being positioned adjacent one edge .01 the wall and the other end being adjacent the other edge of the wall; each of said slots extending angularly through said wall, means for flexing the portion of said wall on one side 01 the slots to adjust the size of the opening formed byeach of said slots, and means 10 for supplying a fluid to each of said chambers and i'or causing it to be discharged therefrom through said slots.

7. Drying apparatus for drying strip-like material comprising spaced headers between which 5 the strip-like material may be passed, each header .comprisingtop, bottom, side and end walls, the wall of each header adjacent the path of travel of the strip having therein a" plurality of spaced, V-shaped slots extending therethrough, one end of each slot being positioned adjacent one edge of the wall and the other end being adjacent the other edge of the wall, means cooperating with theslotted wall at each header for moving a, portion of the wall adjacent each slot out of the plane of the wall and maintaining it in deflected position for adjusting the size of the openings formed by said slots, and means for supplying a fluid to each of said headers and for causing it to be discharged therefrom through said slots,

each of said slots extending angularly through the wall of the header in a direction to discharge fluid therethrough in a direction opposite the direction of travel of the strip-like material.

8. Drying apparatus for drying strip-like material comprising spaced headers between which the strip-like material may be passed, each header comprising top, bottom, side and end walls,

the wall of each header adjacent the path of travel of the strip having therein a plurality of means for adjusting the rod and the wall ad-' jacent the slot tomove a portion of the wall at least partially out of the general plane of the wall, whereby the size of the openings formed go by said slots may be adjusted, and means for supplying a fluid to said chamber and'for causing it to be discharged therefrom through said slots.

9. Drying apparatus for drying strip-like material comprising spaced headers between which the strip-like material may be passed, each header comprising top, bottom, side and end walls, the

wall of each header adjacent the path of travel of the strip having therein aplurality of spaced,

o V-shaped slots extending therethrough, one end of each slot being positioned adjacent one edge of the wall and the otherend being adjacent the other edge of the wall, means extending from the slotted wall of each header to the opposite wall for flexing the portions of the slotted wall intermediate the ends of the slots and between adjacent slots, and means for supplying a fluid to each of the headers and for causing it to be discharged therefrom through said slots.

10. Apparatus for drying traveling strip comprising an air chamber having a. wall generally parallel to the strip path, a plurality of spaced slots in said wall, each of said slots having leg portions which extend ansularly with respect to 75 the adjacent side wall and toward an end wall,

8 acterized by the sides of the slots being disposed at an oblique angle to said plane.

12. The apparatus defined by claim 10 characterized by said slots being V-shaped in plan and said flexing means being secured adjacent the vertices of the slots.

GENERAL 8. FRUM. 

